US7724292B2 - Color filter array for a CMOS sensor for generating a color signal in an image pickup apparatus - Google Patents

Color filter array for a CMOS sensor for generating a color signal in an image pickup apparatus Download PDF

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US7724292B2
US7724292B2 US11/473,024 US47302406A US7724292B2 US 7724292 B2 US7724292 B2 US 7724292B2 US 47302406 A US47302406 A US 47302406A US 7724292 B2 US7724292 B2 US 7724292B2
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signals
filter
pixels
color
image pickup
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US20070013796A1 (en
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Isamu Ueno
Shigetoshi Sugawa
Katsuhisa Ogawa
Toru Koizumi
Tetsunobu Kochi
Katsuhito Sakurai
Hiroki Hiyama
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Canon Inc
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Canon Inc
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/10—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof for generating image signals from different wavelengths
    • H04N23/13—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof for generating image signals from different wavelengths with multiple sensors
    • H04N23/16—Optical arrangements associated therewith, e.g. for beam-splitting or for colour correction
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
    • H04N25/10—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof for transforming different wavelengths into image signals
    • H04N25/11—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics
    • H04N25/13—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements
    • H04N25/135—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements based on four or more different wavelength filter elements
    • H04N25/136—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements based on four or more different wavelength filter elements using complementary colours
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/80—Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
    • H04N23/84—Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof for processing colour signals

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for generating a color image signal from light incident from a color filter array, to an image signal read method of reading an image signal from the image pickup apparatus, to a computer process method of generating an image signal, to a computer readable storage medium storing programs, to a processing apparatus for obtaining an image signal, and to an image pickup system including the image pickup apparatus and the processing apparatus.
  • the color filter includes a primary color filter and a complementary color filter.
  • the primary color filter has three colors, red, green, and blue, whereas the complementary color filter has four colors, cyan, yellow, magenta, and green.
  • a cyan color filter intercepts only red color in the visible light range
  • a yellow color filter intercepts only blue color in the visible light range
  • a magenta color filter intercepts only green color in the visible light range
  • a green color filter transmits only green light.
  • FIG. 1 shows a pattern of color filters according to a first conventional example.
  • This pattern has a periodicity of two pixels in the horizontal direction and four pixels in the vertical direction.
  • the luminance signal Y can be obtained through the equation (1) by using Cy, Ye, Mg, and G in a block of 2 ⁇ 2 pixels, two pixels in the horizontal direction and two pixels in the vertical direction.
  • the blue and red color difference signals CB and CR can be obtained through the equations (2) and (3) by using Cy, Ye, Mg, and G in the block of 2 ⁇ 2 pixels.
  • FIG. 2 shows a pattern of color filters according to a second conventional example.
  • This pattern has a periodicity of two pixels in the horizontal direction and four pixels in the vertical direction.
  • the luminance signal Y can be obtained through the equation (1) by using Cy, Ye, Mg, and G in a block of 2 ⁇ 2 pixels, two pixels in the horizontal direction and two pixels in the vertical direction.
  • the blue and red color difference signals CB and CR can be obtained through the equations (2) and (3) by using Cy, Ye, Mg, and G in the block of 2 ⁇ 2 pixels.
  • a digital still camera with an image pickup apparatus reads an image at high speed with a sacrifice of resolution before an image is photographed.
  • an image is displayed in a finder such as a liquid crystal finder, an iris is adjusted, a white balance is adjusted, or other preliminary operations are performed.
  • a finder such as a liquid crystal finder
  • an iris is adjusted
  • a white balance is adjusted, or other preliminary operations are performed.
  • CCD color filter layout
  • paired image data is output from the image pickup apparatus. More specifically, referring to FIG. 1 , a pair of data of pixels (C1, R1) and (C1, R2) is output, then a pair of data of pixels (C2, R1) and (C2, R2) is output, then pairs of data of column pixels in the rows R1 and R2 are sequentially output.
  • a pair of data of pixels (C1, R3) and (C1, R4) is output, then a pair of data of pixels (C2, R3) and (C2, R4) is output, then pairs of data of column pixels in the rows R3 and R4 are sequentially output. Since these outputs are used, the calculation of the equation (2) can be made, for example, for the rows R1 and R2, but it cannot be made for the rows R3 and R4. Similarly, the calculation of the equation (3) can be made, for example, for the rows R3 and R4, but it cannot be made for the rows R1 and R2. Therefore, the color difference signal for each color can be obtained only from one row among the four rows of image pickup elements so that the resolution of the color difference signal lowers in the vertical direction.
  • a signal read in a high speed read mode can be used for adjusting the white balance.
  • paired image data is output from the image pickup apparatus. More specifically, referring to FIG. 2 , a pair of data of pixels (C1, R1) and (C1, R2) is output, then a pair of data of pixels (C2, R1) and (C2, R2) is output, then pairs of data of column pixels in the rows R1 and R2 are sequentially output.
  • a pair of data of pixels (C1, R3) and (C1, R4) is output, then a pair of data of pixels (C2, R3) and (C2, R4) is output, then pairs of data of column pixels in the rows R3 and R4 are sequentially output. Since these outputs are used, the calculation of the equation (2) can be made, for example, for the rows R1, R2, R3, and R4, but it cannot be made for the rows R5, R6, R7, and R8. Similarly, the calculation of the equation (3) can be made, for example, for the rows R5, R6, R7, and R8, but it cannot be made for the rows R1, R2, R3, and R4. Therefore, the color difference signal for each color can be obtained only from two rows among the eight rows of image pickup elements so that the resolution of the color difference signal lowers in the vertical direction.
  • an image pickup apparatus comprises: a plurality of pixels; a color filter array of four colors disposed on the plurality of pixels, wherein said color filter array has a periodicity of two rows ⁇ two columns, and colors of four color filters in a periodical unit of two rows ⁇ two columns are all different from each other.
  • An image pickup apparatus comprises: a plurality of pixels; a color filter array of four colors disposed on the plurality of pixels; first calculating means for calculating a difference between an average signal of a first row, first column signal and a first row, second column signal in an area of two rows ⁇ two columns and an average signal of a second row, first column signal and a second row, second column signal in the area of two rows ⁇ two columns; and second calculating means for calculating a difference between an average signal of a first row, first column signal and a second row, first column signal in the area of two rows ⁇ two columns and an average signal of a first row, second column signal and a second row, second column signal in the area of two rows ⁇ two columns.
  • An image pickup apparatus comprises: a plurality of pixels; a color filter array disposed on the plurality of pixels and having a periodicity of two rows ⁇ two columns; and calculating means for calculating two color difference signals from each color filter of two rows ⁇ two columns in the color filter array having the periodicity of two rows ⁇ two columns.
  • FIG. 1 shows a pattern of conventional color filters.
  • FIG. 2 shows another pattern of conventional color filters.
  • FIG. 3 shows a pattern of color filters according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a read method according to the first embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an image pickup apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the image pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of an image pickup apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the image pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of an image pickup apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the image pickup apparatus shown in FIG. 9 .
  • FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an image pickup system with an image pickup apparatus, according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 shows a pattern of color filters according to the first embodiment of the invention.
  • This pattern has a periodicity of two pixels in the horizontal direction and two pixels in the vertical direction.
  • the first row has G and Ye color filters disposed in this order from the left
  • the second row has Cy and Mg color filters disposed in this order from the left.
  • the pattern of color filters may be reversed right and left, or up and down.
  • the luminance signal Y, blue color difference signal CB, and red color difference signal CR can be calculated respectively from the equations (2) and (3) by using Cy, Ye, Mg, and G signals in various color filter patterns.
  • FIG. 4 shows a pattern of color filters constituted of a fundamental pattern of two pixels in the horizontal direction and two pixels in the vertical direction. With reference to FIG. 4 , particular read methods will be described.
  • the color difference signals CB and CR each can be obtained from two pixels in the horizontal direction and two pixels in the vertical direction, resulting in a high resolution.
  • one luminance signal Ye is obtained for every two pixels in the horizontal direction.
  • the level of the luminance signal Y is high.
  • the luminance signal Y generated by this method is suitable for an autofocus detecting signal particularly when an object has a high horizontal resolution such as a fine vertical stripe pattern and has a low luminance.
  • one luminance signal Ye is obtained for every two pixels in the vertical direction.
  • the level of the luminance signal Y is high in the vertical direction.
  • the luminance signal Y generated by this method is suitable for an autofocus detecting signal particularly when an object has a high horizontal resolution such as a fine horizontal stripe pattern.
  • the fourth read method a color difference line sequential signal can be obtained.
  • the fourth read method is suitable for a moving image object, because the number of read signals is a half of the first read method.
  • the fifth read method is suitable for a moving image object.
  • An image signal can be read at high speed because the number of read color difference signals of pixels is a half of the first read method.
  • Color difference signals CB are calculated by the method similar to the fifth read method.
  • the sixth read method is suitable for a moving image object.
  • An image signal can be read at high speed because the number of read color difference signals of pixels is a half of the first read method.
  • Color difference signals CB are calculated by the method similar to the fifth read method.
  • the sixth read method is suitable for a moving image object.
  • An image signal can be read at high speed because the number of read color difference signals of pixels is half of the first read method.
  • the color difference signals CB and CR are obtained from the same area.
  • the color difference signals CR are calculated by the similar method to the fourth to seventh read methods.
  • the eighth to eleventh read methods are suitable for a moving image object.
  • An image signal can be read at high speed because the number of read color difference signals of pixels is half of the first read method.
  • the twelfth method is suitable for a moving image object.
  • An image signal can be read at high speed because the number of read color difference signals of pixels is a quarter of the first read method.
  • the above read methods may be used while pixels are read by thinning them in the unit of a fundamental pattern or a plurality of fundamental pattern to thereby speed up a read operation.
  • FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the structure of a CMOS sensor of the second embodiment.
  • the CMOS sensor includes: a first output series for outputting a difference between an average value of detection light amounts of two pixels adjacent in the vertical direction in one column and an average value of detection light amounts of two pixels adjacent in the vertical direction in the next column; and a second output series for outputting a difference between an average value of detection light amounts of two pixels adjacent in the horizontal direction in one row and an average value of detection light amounts of two pixels adjacent in the horizontal direction in the next row. Therefore, the CMOS sensor of this embodiment can use the first read method.
  • reference numeral 1 represents a vertical scan circuit for generating an enable signal which enables a control signal of each row, the enable signal sequentially becoming active in the vertical direction.
  • Reference numeral 100 represents a photodiode serving as a photodetector for converting incidence light into electric charges.
  • Reference numeral 101 represents a transfer transistor for transferring the electric charges generated by the photodiode 100 to a floating diffusion region 101 , 102 which temporarily stores the transferred electric charges.
  • Reference numeral 103 represents a reset transistor for discharging electric charges accumulated in the gate of an amplifier transistor 104 .
  • Reference numeral 121 represents a switching transistor. The elements 100 to 104 , and 121 constitute one pixel.
  • Reference numeral 112 represents a constant current source transistor which is activated by a voltage applied to a terminal 7 .
  • Reference numeral 105 represents a transistor for discharging electric charges in capacitors 109 , 110 , 117 , and 118 .
  • Reference numeral 106 represents a current distribution division transistor for connecting the source of the transistor 104 to the capacitor 109 .
  • Reference numeral 107 represents a current distribution transistor for connecting the source of the transistor 104 to the capacitor 110 .
  • the capacitors 109 and 110 function as a line memory which is charged by a voltage supplied from the transistor 104 .
  • Reference numeral 108 represents an averaging transistor for averaging the electric charges in the capacitors 109 and 110 .
  • Reference numeral 111 represents a switching transistor for applying a voltage of the line memory 109 to a buffer 123 at the front stage of a differential amplifier 122 which amplifies a difference between voltages across the capacitors 109 and 109 ′.
  • Reference numeral 113 represents a switching transistor for connecting the source of the transistor 104 to a capacitor 117 .
  • Reference numeral 114 represents a switching transistor for connecting the source of the transistor 104 to a capacitor, 118 .
  • the capacitors 117 and 118 are charged by a current supplied from the source of the transistor 104 .
  • Reference numeral 115 represents a switching transistor for controlling to average the electric charges stored in the capacitors 117 and 117 ′.
  • Reference numeral 116 represents a switching transistor for controlling to average the electric charges stored in the capacitors 118 and 118 ′.
  • Reference numeral 119 represents a switching transistor for supplying a voltage of the line memory 117 to a buffer 129 at the front stage of a differential amplifier 127 which amplifies a difference between voltages across the capacitors 117 and 118 ′.
  • the constant current source transistor 112 is activated in the unit of a row, and paired with the transistor 104 to constitute an amplifier.
  • FIG. 6 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of the CMOS sensor shown in FIG. 5 With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 , the operation of the CMOS sensor shown in FIG. 5 will be described.
  • a pulse applied to a terminal 11 takes a high state, and pulses applied to M terminals 30 , 31 , 50 , and 51 take the high state. Therefore, the line memories 109 , 110 , 117 , and 118 are reset to initial potentials.
  • a start pulse applied to a terminal 2 of the vertical scan circuit 1 and a scan pulse applied to a terminal 3 take the high level, so that the vertical scan circuit 1 starts scanning to select the first row.
  • a high level pulse is applied to a terminal 8 to reset the floating diffusion regions of the pixel area.
  • a reset pulse at the terminal 8 falls so that the floating diffusion regions of first row pixels are made in an electrically floating state.
  • a high level pulse is applied to a terminal 9 so that electric charges are transferred from photodiodes of the first row to the floating diffusion regions.
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 10 , 30 , and 50 so that a voltage proportional to light amounts detected with the photodetectors of the first row is read to the capacitors 109 and 117 via the amplifier 104 .
  • the vertical scan pulse 3 falls.
  • the vertical scan pulse 3 again rises to select the second row.
  • a reset pulse falls so that the floating diffusion regions of pixels of the second row are made in an electrically floating state.
  • a high level pulse is applied to the terminal 9 so that electric charges are transferred from photodiodes of the second row to the floating diffusion regions.
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 10 , 30 , and 51 so that a voltage proportional to light amounts detected with the photodetectors of the second row is read to the capacitors 110 and 118 via the amplifier 104 of the second row.
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 40 , 60 , and 61 to average the electric charges on the line memories.
  • a horizontal scan circuit 4 starts scanning so that averaged voltages are sequentially applied in the horizontal direction to the differential amplifiers 122 and 127 .
  • the differential amplifiers 122 and 127 output a blue color difference signal CB and a red color difference signal CR.
  • adders made of an operational amplifier or the like to the terminals 70 and 71 and to the terminals 80 and 81 , luminance signals can be output.
  • an output signal of each pixel in the odd column can be obtained from the output terminal 71
  • an output signal of each pixel in the even column can be obtained from the output terminal 70 .
  • FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the structure of a CMOS sensor of the third embodiment.
  • the CMOS sensor includes an output series for outputting an average value of detection light amounts of two pixels adjacent in the horizontal direction or an average of detection light amounts of four pixels adjacent in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the CMOS sensor of this embodiment can use the third read method by summing the two outputs of the CMOS sensor.
  • Reference numeral 301 represents a switching transistor for controlling to average electric charges accumulated in capacitors 109 and 109 ′.
  • Reference numeral 302 represents a switching transistor for controlling to average electric charges accumulated in capacitors 110 and 110 ′.
  • Reference numeral 301 ′ represents a switching transistor for controlling to average electric charges accumulated in capacitors 109 ′′ and 109 ′′′.
  • Reference numeral 302 ′ represents a switching transistor for controlling to average electric charges accumulated in capacitors 110 ′′ and 110 ′′′.
  • Reference numeral 303 represents a switching transistor for controlling to average electric charges accumulated in the capacitors 109 ′ and 109 ′′.
  • Reference numeral 304 represents a switching transistor for controlling to average electric charges accumulated in the capacitors 110 ′ and 110 ′′. If the switching transistors 301 , 301 ′, and 303 are operated synchronously, the electric charges stored in the capacitors 109 , 109 ′, 109 ′′, and 109 ′′′ are averaged. For example, if after or when the switching transistors 301 and 301 ′ are turned on, the switching transistor 303 is turned on, these transistors average the electric charges stored in the capacitors 109 , 109 ′, 109 ′′, and 109 ′′′.
  • the switching transistors 302 , 302 ′, and 304 are operated synchronously, these transistors average the electric charges stored in the capacitors 110 , 110 ′, 110 ′′, and 110 ′′′. Namely, if after or when the switching transistors 302 and 304 ′ are turned on, the switching transistor 304 is turned on, these transistors average the electric charges stored in the capacitors 110 , 110 ′, 110 ′′, and 110 ′′′.
  • FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of the CMOS sensor shown in FIG. 7 . With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 , the operation of the CMOS sensor shown in FIG. 7 will be described.
  • a start pulse applied to a terminal 2 of the vertical scan circuit 1 and a scan pulse applied to a terminal 3 take the high level, so that the vertical scan circuit 1 starts scanning to select the first row.
  • a high level pulse is applied to a terminal 8 to reset the floating diffusion regions of the pixel area.
  • a reset pulse at the terminal 8 falls so that the floating diffusion regions of first row pixels are made in an electrically floating state.
  • a high level pulse is applied to a terminal 9 so that electric charges in the photodetectors of the first row are transferred to the floating diffusion regions.
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 10 and 50 so that a voltage proportional to light amounts detected with the photodetectors of the first row is read to the capacitor 109 via the amplifier 104 .
  • the vertical scan pulse 3 rises.
  • the vertical scan pulse 3 again falls to select the second row.
  • a reset pulse falls so that the floating diffusion regions of pixels of the second row are made in an electrically floating state.
  • a high level pulse is applied to the terminal 9 so that electric charges are transferred from photodiodes of the second row to the floating diffusion regions.
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 10 , and 51 so that a voltage proportional to light amounts detected with the photodetectors of the second row is read to the capacitor 110 via the amplifier 104 of the second row.
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 60 , 61 , 90 , and 91 to average the electric charges in the capacitors 109 , 109 ′, 109 ′′, and 109 ′′′ on the line memories and to average the electric charges in the capacitors 110 , 110 ′, 110 ′′, and 110 ′′′ on the line memories.
  • a horizontal scan circuit 4 starts scanning so that averaged voltages are sequentially output in the horizontal direction. Since a luminance signal is output in this embodiment, only one output terminal 16 is used. If a plurality of output terminals like those shown in FIG. 7 are used, color difference signals can be obtained.
  • FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing the structure of a CMOS sensor of the fourth embodiment.
  • the CMOS sensor includes an output series for outputting an average value of detection light amounts of two pixels adjacent in the vertical direction or an average of detection light amounts of four pixels adjacent in the vertical direction. Therefore, the CMOS sensor of this embodiment can use the second read method by summing the two outputs of the CMOS sensor.
  • Reference numerals 501 , 502 , 503 , and 504 represent current distribution transistors for distributing current supplied from a transistor to capacitors 508 , 509 , 510 , and 511 .
  • the capacitor 508 stores signals from first row photodetectors
  • the capacitor 509 stores signals from second row photodetectors
  • the capacitor 510 stores signals from third row photodetectors
  • the capacitor 511 stores signals from fourth row photodetectors.
  • Reference numeral 505 represents a switching transistor for controlling to average electric charges accumulated in the capacitors 508 and 509 .
  • Reference numeral 506 represents a switching transistor for controlling to average electric charges accumulated in the capacitors 509 and 510 .
  • Reference numeral 507 represents a switching transistor for controlling to average electric charges accumulated in the capacitors 510 and 511 . If the switching transistors 505 , 506 , and 507 are operated synchronously, the electric charges stored in the capacitors 508 , 509 , 510 , and 511 are averaged. For example, if after or when the switching transistors 505 and 507 are turned on, the switching transistor 506 is turned on, these transistors average the electric charges stored in the capacitors 508 , 509 , 510 , and 511 .
  • FIG. 10 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of the CMOS sensor shown in FIG. 9 .
  • FIGS. 9 and 10 the operation of the CMOS sensor shown in FIG. 9 will be described.
  • a start pulse applied to a terminal 2 of the vertical scan circuit 1 and a scan pulse applied to a terminal 3 take the high level, so that the vertical scan circuit 1 starts scanning to select the first row.
  • a high level pulse is applied to a terminal 8 to reset the floating diffusion regions of the pixel area.
  • a reset pulse at the terminal 8 falls so that the floating diffusion regions of first row pixels are made in an electrically floating state.
  • a high level pulse is applied to a terminal 9 so that electric charges in the photodetectors of the first row are transferred to the floating diffusion regions.
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 10 and 30 so that a voltage proportional to light amounts detected with the photodetectors of the first row is read to the capacitor 508 .
  • the vertical scan pulse 3 rises.
  • the vertical scan pulse 3 again rises to select the second row.
  • a reset pulse falls so that the floating diffusion regions of pixels of the second row are made in an electrically floating state.
  • a high level pulse is applied to the terminal 9 so that electric charges are transferred from photodiodes of the second row to the floating diffusion regions.
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 10 , and 31 so that a voltage proportional to light amounts detected with the photodetectors of the second row is read to the capacitor 509 .
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 10 and 32 so that a voltage proportional to light amounts detected with the photodetectors of the third row is read to the capacitor 510 .
  • a high level pulse is applied to terminals 10 and 33 so that a voltage proportional to light amounts detected with the photodetectors of the fourth row is read to the capacitor 511 .
  • a high level pulse is applied to the terminals 40 and 41 to average the electric charges in the capacitors 508 , 509 , 510 , and 511 on the line memories.
  • a horizontal scan circuit 4 starts scanning so that averaged voltages are sequentially output in the horizontal direction. Voltages proportional to average values of light amounts detected with the photodetectors of the first to fourth rows are sequentially output from an output terminal 70 .
  • an average value of the first and second columns may be output from the output terminal 70 and an average value of the third and fourth columns may be output from an output terminal 71 .
  • a difference between the average value of the first and second columns and the average value of the third and fourth columns may be output from an output terminal 72 .
  • a reset voltage at the floating diffusion regions may be read to another line memory, prior to reading image signals of pixels.
  • a variation of output voltages to be caused by a variation of threshold voltages of transistors 104 can be eliminated. Therefore, an image signal with a high S/N ratio can be obtained which does not contain noise components to be generated by a variation of image signals caused by a variation of amounts of light detected with photodetectors.
  • Vertical/horizontal scanning may be performed by thinning pixels in the unit of one block or a plurality of blocks so that more compressed image signals can be obtained.
  • CMOS sensor is used as an example of image pickup elements.
  • Other image pickup elements such as CCD and SIT may also be used.
  • color filters of four colors including yellow Ye, magenta Mg, cyan Cy, and green G are used.
  • Other color filters may also be used if they can obtain a luminance signal and color difference signals.
  • FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the structure of an image pickup system with an image pickup apparatus, according to the fifth embodiment of the invention.
  • signals from pixels of an image pickup apparatus 91 such as a CMOS sensor are supplied directly to an A/D converter 92 , without processing the signals such as addition calculation to obtain color difference signals and a luminance signal.
  • signals After the signals are converted by the A/D converter 92 into digital signals, they are stored in a memory 93 .
  • a computer 94 performs necessary calculations for digital signals stored in the memory 93 to obtain a luminance signal and color difference signals.
  • Software for running the computer 94 may be stored in a storage medium storing programs.
  • the storage medium storing such programs may be a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a semiconductor memory, and the like.
  • a color image signal with color difference signals having a high resolution both in the horizontal and vertical directions can be obtained, for example by using the first read method.
  • the embodiments can be applied to a multi-mode such as a mode of outputting an image signal at high speed which signal can be used for simple color display, autofocus, white balance adjustment and a mode of outputting an image signal having a high resolution.

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Cited By (12)

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US20090195681A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 Compton John T Sampling and Readout of an Image Sensor Having a Sparse Color Filter Array Pattern
US20100048242A1 (en) * 2008-08-19 2010-02-25 Rhoads Geoffrey B Methods and systems for content processing
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US8194296B2 (en) 2006-05-22 2012-06-05 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Image sensor with improved light sensitivity
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US12003864B2 (en) 2012-09-04 2024-06-04 Duelight Llc Image sensor apparatus and method for obtaining multiple exposures with zero interframe time
US12401912B2 (en) 2014-11-17 2025-08-26 Duelight Llc System and method for generating a digital image
US12401911B2 (en) 2014-11-07 2025-08-26 Duelight Llc Systems and methods for generating a high-dynamic range (HDR) pixel stream
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Cited By (19)

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US9083901B2 (en) 1998-11-02 2015-07-14 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Solid-state image pickup device and method of resetting the same
US8081250B2 (en) 2003-03-27 2011-12-20 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image pickup apparatus having a correction unit for correction of noise components generated by clamping circuits
US20100259663A1 (en) * 2003-03-27 2010-10-14 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image pickup apparatus
US8610811B2 (en) 2003-03-27 2013-12-17 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image pickup apparatus
US8330839B2 (en) 2005-07-28 2012-12-11 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Image sensor with improved light sensitivity
US8274715B2 (en) 2005-07-28 2012-09-25 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Processing color and panchromatic pixels
US8711452B2 (en) 2005-07-28 2014-04-29 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Processing color and panchromatic pixels
US8139130B2 (en) 2005-07-28 2012-03-20 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Image sensor with improved light sensitivity
US8194296B2 (en) 2006-05-22 2012-06-05 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Image sensor with improved light sensitivity
US8416339B2 (en) 2006-10-04 2013-04-09 Omni Vision Technologies, Inc. Providing multiple video signals from single sensor
US7999870B2 (en) * 2008-02-01 2011-08-16 Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Sampling and readout of an image sensor having a sparse color filter array pattern
US20090195681A1 (en) * 2008-02-01 2009-08-06 Compton John T Sampling and Readout of an Image Sensor Having a Sparse Color Filter Array Pattern
US8385971B2 (en) 2008-08-19 2013-02-26 Digimarc Corporation Methods and systems for content processing
US20100048242A1 (en) * 2008-08-19 2010-02-25 Rhoads Geoffrey B Methods and systems for content processing
US12003864B2 (en) 2012-09-04 2024-06-04 Duelight Llc Image sensor apparatus and method for obtaining multiple exposures with zero interframe time
US12401911B2 (en) 2014-11-07 2025-08-26 Duelight Llc Systems and methods for generating a high-dynamic range (HDR) pixel stream
US12401912B2 (en) 2014-11-17 2025-08-26 Duelight Llc System and method for generating a digital image
US12418727B2 (en) 2014-11-17 2025-09-16 Duelight Llc System and method for generating a digital image
US12445736B2 (en) 2015-05-01 2025-10-14 Duelight Llc Systems and methods for generating a digital image

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KR19990068222A (ko) 1999-08-25
JPH11220740A (ja) 1999-08-10
JP4006075B2 (ja) 2007-11-14
KR100320900B1 (ko) 2002-02-04
US20070013796A1 (en) 2007-01-18
EP0933950A2 (en) 1999-08-04
EP0933950B1 (en) 2005-12-07
EP0933950A3 (en) 2000-08-23
DE69928711D1 (de) 2006-01-12

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